For several years, my husband Brett spent his summers working at a camp in Caribou-Targhee National Forest. With this year marking 20 years since his first summer there, he was eager to revisit one of his favorite places.

The weather had turned chilly in the weeks prior to our visit, but the forest must have heard us coming because it rolled out the red carpet with plenty of sunshine and a nice warm breeze. It was a perfect day for exploring, and we were like two giddy kids as Brett showed me all of his favorite places.






We were a tad bit early for any fall colors, but we did catch a few trees and bushes starting to get the hint. We also found these down in a muddy creek bed:

In fact, those creek bottoms were my favorite part. They were full of gorgeous green moss that made you feel like you were stepping into a magical fairy kingdom. I mean, look at how glorious this is:




But really, with views like these, who needs fairies? Caribou-Targhee National Forest is plenty magical on its own.

I truly believe that beloved landscapes have great power for shaping our lives. What places have made a difference in your life? When was the last time you visited? Have you ever shared your special place with your loved ones? If you can’t make a visit soon, be sure to write in your journal about your place and how it has changed you.
I’d love to hear about your favorite places, too! Tell me their story in the comments below or over on Facebook, or tag your pictures on Instagram with #jestkeptsecret.
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